Temps were in the 50’s today with sunny skies, an unusual occurrence for northern New Jersey winter, especially New Year’s Eve. A friend of mine suggested that we take advantage of the opportunity and hit a local wild trout stream.
I knew it was going to be a good day when a small wild brown took a hare’s ear on one of my first casts. It fought like a fish twice it’s size and had great coloring.
A few yards down a 7″ brookie took the hare’s ear. Another good fight. These wild fish are pretty and feisty at any size.
My friend continued to pick up fish while my action quieted down. We moved downstream, changed our rigs and started catching again. I finished the day with a small brown that took a caddis pupa and he caught a dancing brown that I believe was the best fish of the day.
I was trying out my new build, a 9′ 4 wt, which up until today had only caught one nice sized chub. I was afraid that the rod had been jinxed, but today proved otherwise.
After a hike back to the car through a forest of wild rose bushes (my first purchase of 2012 may be a machete) and a few slip’n slide episodes on the marshy ground, we went for lunch at a local brew pub. Not a bad way to finish off 2011.
Below are a couple of pics from the day. Sorry they’re not better, but I only had my phone’s camera.
Have a Happy and Safe 2012!
